the streams at which it was accustomed to slake its thirst. It would be no unusual thing, however, for an Israelite to see this inoffensive animal exhausted and fatigued, and panting for a drop of water; and, consequently, the application of the figure to the Psalmist's desire after God would convey an impression far more forcible than can be produced by it on our minds. In Jeremiah xlix. we have a figure still more peculiar to the land of Judea. "He shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan, against the habitation of the strong." In this passage too, there is obvious beauty and even sublimity of description; but it is considerably more obscure to us than the former. It would however be perfectly familiar and intelligible to those for whom it was first written. What we here know of a lion is chiefly by description, and by the exhibition of a few of these monarchs of the four footed race encaged in caravans. These are comparatively small and feeble, and at the same time so tame through confinement and the discipline of keepers, that they show us nothing of the true character of that unrivalled animal, who walks in conscious superiority through the forest, or bounds with resistless speed and violence across the plain, and fills, by his tremendous roaring, a whole neighborhood with terror. The river Jordan, too, is so dissimilar to our rivers, as to increase the obscurity of the paasage to those who are not acquainted with the peculiarities of its course. When the snows of Lebanon and of the neighboring mountains began to melt, and when the rainy season commenced, the mountain torrents rushed into the vale below, and regularly caused Jordan to overflow its banks, and thus inundated all the adjoining lowlands. The lion had his abode among the lofty reeds which grow on the banks of this river; and when the descending waters caused Jordan so to swell, as to invade his resting place, he was driven to madness by the intrusion of an enemy whom he could not resist, and flew to revenge himself against the inhabitants of the adjoining cities. How striking a picture of the rage and violence of an invading army. (To be continued.) CONFESSION OF DAVID D. HOW. The following sentence is an extract from the confession of David D. How, who was recently executed for the murder of OTHELLO CHURCH, as written by Elder J. Badger, and signed by said How. "My troubles destroyed in me almost all the fine feelings I ever possessed. I now aroused all the hope I could in the doctrine of Universalism, which I had long tried to cherish as a cloke for my sins, tho I cannot say I honestly and fully believed it." One of the most crying sins of Universalism in the mouths of its opponents, is its demoralizing tendency. If the doctrine has been used for bad purposes in the lives of some vicious people, we conceive there is no greater indignity offered, than the grace of God which leadeth men to repentance, has often received. The wickedness of man consists greatly in perverting the blessings of heaven to bad purposes. But we are happy to find in the above instance, as we have noticed in similar occurrences before, that the doctrine of universal salvation, grasped with a view to cover iniquity and silence the reproofs of conscience, has disappointed its adherer. He could find in it no hiding-place, in which he could practice iniquity and be at rest. Besides, our opposers will remember that there has been one murderer that was not of our faith,-one murderer that believed in endless misery,-not so much for himself, as for his neighbor, whom he had hurried out of the world in his sins, without giving him time for repentance. ANECDOTE OF HOWARD. The Governor of Upper Alsace, a vain man, and his Countess still vainer, honored Howard with a visit. With a very haughty air, the Governor inquired into the state of prisons in his government. "The worst in all Germany," said Howard, "particularly in the condition of female prisoners; and I recommend your *Countess to visit them personally, as the best means of rectifying abuses in their management." "I" said she, "I go into prisons!" and hurried away with her husband so rapidly, Howard said he was seriously afraid she would fall down stairs. He nevertheless called after her with a loud voice, "Madam, remember that you are a woman yourself, and must soon, like the most miserable female prisoner in a dungeon, inhabit but a small space of that earth from which you equally originated." Memoirs. Our correspondent in Canada who sent a few verses for the Repository is informed, that notwithstanding the letter safely contained the dollar note deposited therein, it lost part of the verses, probably by some crafty hand, as one end of the sheet appears to have been cut off. DIED, in Reading, April 16, Mr. JOHN ALLEN, aged 75. In Warner, N. H. April 10, Mrs. DOROTHY WORTHLEY, wife of Mr. Samuel Worthley, in her 43d year. She was a pious woman, and died in the faith of God's universal grace. In Shrewsbury, Miss PAULINA WEBBER, daughter of Mr. William Webber, in the 26 year of her age. THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM. Whither, pilgrims, are you sailing? Dark the night that closes 'round," Whither, pilgrims, are you bound? When I launch'd on life's rough ocean, Roll'd the waves in rude commotion, Moon nor stars, to give me light Rocks and quicksands thick besetting, I cease the billows more to stem!- Bethlehem's bright Star appearing No. 2. AUGUST, 1824. VOL. V. SERMON NO. XVII. Revelation, v. 5.-And one of the Elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. Men of all religions have acknowledged the sublimity of many parts of the book of Revelation. It appears to bear the stamp of authority, and to carry with it much internal evidence of its truth. Yet some circumstances contribute to give it a character which but partially attaches to any other book in the Bible. With the title of a Revelation, it seems in many instances abstruse and obscure; and with the professed design of "making known the things which were to be hereafter," it is thought by many, to need a new revelation to explain it. No book has more excited the sarcasms of the opposers of revealed religion, and none has more puzzled Christian commentators than this. The cause of division of opinion upon this book is probably to be found in the minds of those who have undertaken to explain it. Their scheme of interpretation has not been sufficiently general and comprehensive, and their standard of explication has been too low, and their principles too narrow and local, to enable them to agree among themselves, or afford instruction to others. Without vainly professing to understand all of this book; humbly confessing that it embraces much which we do not at present comprehend; and avowing our opinion, that many predictions will never be understood till their fulfilment, a fact, which preceding Scriptures recognize; we undertake to offer some views of the passage before us; and we apprize you of the circumstances under which we attempt its discussion. Some of these circumstances will undoubtedly appear unfavorable to this attempt; and unpromising of success. For how shall we succeed ་ |